Kolkata, Jan 21 (IANS) Global powers Russia and China are gearing up to push their currency in world trade to jolt the US dollar, considered to be the default currency unit for international trade, a British economist said Wednesday.
According to Simon Hunt, "de-dollarisation" is gathering pace in EU and Asian trade markets with the likelihood of China and Russia's currencies (Russian Rouble and the Chinese RMB) being linked to gold and the eco-strategic alliance the two world powers are forming.
"Russia is selling oil and gas in currencies other than US dollar undermining the importance of the American petro-dollar. It is also converting its export revenue into physical gold," Hunt told IANS at an event organised by Confederation of Indian Industries here.
According to World Gold Council, Russia became the sixth largest economy to have gold reserves pegged at 1,187.5 tonnes while China ranks seventh with the official figure of reserves at 1,054.1 tonnes.
"Gold is a still a premiere currency where no fiat money including the US dollar can match it," he said.
Hunt said while the US dollar is on its way to decline in European Union (EU) as the recent move from the Swiss National Bank to push the Euro in ECB policy signals "mistrust with American policies and the world being US dollar," the superpower perceives the SCO and BRICS blocks as a viable threat to its hegemony.
According to the economist, China is swapping currencies and keeping Russian companies liquid by taking equity positions in state-owned enterprises, making loans and advances both within China and between the two countries.
Hunt said a large group of countries centred on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS together with other emerging countries are keen to replace the US dollar with other currency formats with Russia getting the headway.
"The new world (developing and non US-allied nations) no longer wants to be dominated by America and want to divest themselves from being beholden to the US dollar," he said.
The Rouble, however, continues to be dependant on oil which may push Russia to enter actively in the geo-political scenario in the middle-east to push for strong oil prices while China will use loans in US dollar to convert it into assets measurable in RMB to push out the US dollar from its international transactions.
However, 32 percent comprising $4 trillion of China's forex is in US bonds.
China and Russia have also effectively switched to domestic currencies in trading using the financial tools comprising of 'swaps and forwards' amounting $25 billion to minimise the use of US dollar.
End of Chinese apps from phone in few seconds, this app download happening fast in India
New Delhi: Sentiments are growing rapidly against China over the border dispute (India-China Dispute) in Ladakh after Coronavirus in India. People have started to buy Chinese apps and products in
Jaishankar's US tour: Discussion on several issues including corona vaccine and Indo-China border dispute
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that his meeting with India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar was meaningful. During this time they discussed bilateral relations, Covid-19 relief efforts,
Ahead of Obama visit, Nuclear talks see 'Progress'
New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) With an India-US nuclear contact group engaged in hectic negotiations in London to iron out contentious issues over India’s nuclear liability law, the government
Telangana to give Industrial Permission in 15 days
Hyderabad, Jan 29 (IANS) Any investor coming to Telangana will get permission to start the industry within 15 days and if the government fails to meet this deadline, the permission will be deemed
Government welcomes SC judgment on Section 66A: Prasad
New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision to quash Section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, on Tuesday, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
Coronavirus Updates: Corona's speed started increasing in India, new cases crossed three thousand in 24 hours, active cases also increased
The new cases of corona in the country (Corona Cases in India) have crossed the three thousand mark. The Ministry of Health issued an update regarding Corona on Thursday. According to the report, more
Stampede in Khatushyam, death of 3 women: People were in line since night for darshan, a stampede broke out as soon as the doors opened on Ekadashi
A stampede broke out at Khatushyam temple in Sikar, Rajasthan on Monday morning. 3 women died in the accident. 4 people have been injured.
President Election: Yashwant Sinha said - I will stop misuse of agencies as soon as I take the oath, regrets on Advani's condition
Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha reached Jaipur on Monday. He sought votes from Rajasthan Congress and supported MLAs for the post of President. During this, he said that if I win the
8 big changes from April 1: Subsidy on home loan interest ends, investment also scissors; You will have to pay more tax on the highway
The financial year 2022-23 is starting from 1st April i.e. tomorrow. With this, many rules will also change. These will have an impact on our earnings, expenses, and investments.
IGNOU Registration 2023: Apply for admission in January session in IGNOU from today, this is the process
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started admission for January 2023 session. Applicants seeking admission can apply for several courses offered by the university at the official